S4C's Alys is a dark drama

YOUNG actress Catrin Mai Huw is a pretty easy going, cheerful personality so when she landed the role of one of the darkest characters in new S4C drama series, Alys, she wasn’t sure how she would convey her character’s edgy personality.

YOUNG actress Catrin Mai Huw is a pretty easy going, cheerful personality so when she landed the role of one of the darkest characters in new S4C drama series, Alys, she wasn’t sure how she would convey her character’s edgy personality.

But putting on her make-up every day allowed her to transform herself from a breezy, bubbly 23-year-old with a bright future ahead of her into an 18 year old with a grim outlook on the world.

"The make up I needed was quite black and a little bit shocking, so it took some time to put on which allowed me to get into the character. It was pretty scary really, I felt I was no longer myself, but it worked well for me.

"Also when my make-up was removed at the end of each day’s filming I was miraculously transformed back again, so I wasn’t carrying the black mood home with me," said Catrin, orginally from Rhuddlan, but now living in Cardiff.

She plays the role of Ceri in the series, written by acclaimed Welsh author Siwan Jones, who created the popular and successful Tair Chwaer and Con Passionate for S4C.

Catrin is thrilled to have been given a chance to work on a drama written by Siwan.

"I’m a huge fan of hers. She’s such a great writer and always injects humour into her series no matter how dark they are. Plus her characters are so realistic, there are some real veins of truth in them. I just loved Con Passionate, I was a dedicated fan and when I discovered Alys was Siwan’s work as well, I was over the moon."

Catrin says she can’t give too much away about the role of Ceri as there is an element of mystery in the series which, if it were revealed, may spoil the viewers’ enjoyment.

"All I can say is Ceri is very dark, nothing like myself at all, and for a character so young she carries some deep issues around with her and has had a troubled past. It was honestly the most challenging role I have done so far, a real learning curve."

Central to the series is the heroine of the title, Alys, a single mum who flees from her past in Cardiff with her young son, Daniel, and ends up in a small West Wales town, determined to give her son a better life and a new start. But the challenges faced in her new home are immense as she meets strange and difficult characters.

Alys is played by Ammanford actress, Sara Lloyd Gregory. The part was created especially for her.

Sara said: "It’s an honour to have the opportunity to play the lead role in a drama written by Siwan.

"There’s a complete balance to her writing. It has intensity and humour, strong storylines and characters. Reading one of her scripts is like jumping into a book. Her directions are so detailed, you know the characters well from the very beginning. She’s so observant.

"I’m very fond of Alys. I love the fact she’s so strong and there’s always a reason for everything she does. She’s not a bad person."

Catrin agrees, saying Alys has a strong, life-changing influence on every character she meets, including Ceri.

The drama centres around the world of the town’s shop owners, and people who live behind and above those shops, including some particularly strong women.

Catrin filmed the series last year and now can’t wait to watch it.

"It is such good writing I just love all the plotlines and now that some time has passed since the filming it will be great to go back to it and just enjoy the story," she said.

She has always loved drama and as a schoolgirl would regularly visit the theatre with her parents, solicitor Gareth Wynne Jones and wife Meira, who still live in Rhuddlan.

"They are really looking forward to seeing the series," added Catrin, who enjoys both theatre and TV work.

"We loved going to the theatre and would often go to Liverpool or Manchester to see shows as well as venues closer to home.

"I hope my acting career encompasses all styles – films, TV, live theatre, I will look at all roles, especially now I’m starting out, it’s all so exciting and challenging."

She is happy to work in either Welsh or English and sees that as a benefit, particularly at the moment.

"S4C is doing such good stuff currently. It really does offer some of the best dramatic roles around and that’s great for actors and actresses, and for the viewers," she said.